Performance Task (Summary in G.R.A.S.P.S. form): (T)
Goal:The goal is for students to meet the Maine Learning Result which requires students to know how to develop a research question and to use a variety of primary and secondary sources to answer that question.
Role:Students will take on the persona of a news commentator who is applying for a job as the host of a new talk show on CNN.
Audience:The audience will be the rest of the class, as well as anyone on the Internet who reads the student's blog.
Situation:CNN is looking for a talk show that can compete with the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News. You want to host the new talk show, so you create a blog about a current event, explaining both the facts, and your own opinion. You will present this blog in an interesting manner to prove that you would be a good host for the new show.
Product/Presentation:A blog containing information about the chosen topic as well as the student's opinion about the topic. A presentation of the blog.
Standards (criteria from both rubrics):Students will be graded on the effectiveness of the blog, whether or not the present the facts about their topic, whether or not they present their own opinion about their topic, their spelling, usage, and mechanics, whether or not they used proper documentation, whether or not they used five or more sources, the content of their presentation, how well prepared they were for their presentation, whether or not they speak clearly, how loudly they speak, how well they enguage the audience, and whether or not they listen to other students' presentations.
Other Evidence (quizzes, test, prompts, observations, dialogues, work sample, etc.):
Other Evidence (OE)
•Work samples throughout the process
•Observations of students as they work
•Student reflections on the research process over the course of the unit
Student Self-Assessment and Reflection
Self-Assessment (SA)
•How well did you separate the opinions you found from the facts?
•Do you think your blog was convincing?
•What did you learn from this project?
Assessment Task Blue Print
What understandings/goals will be assessed through this task?(G)
Understanding
Goal (MLR)
•Maine Learning Results English Language Arts - C Research
Grade 9 - Diploma Current Events
Students develop research questions and modify them as necessary to elicit, present, and critique information from a vatiety of primary and secondary sources.
•c. Synthesize information from varied sources.
What criteria are implied in the standard(s) understanding(s) regardless of the task specifics? What qualities must student work demonstrate to signify that standards were met?
Big Idea
Big Idea
•Synthesize information from a variety of sources.
•Use persuasive writing.
Through what authentic performance task will students demonstrate understandings?
Task Description:(T)
CNN is looking for a new talk show host who can compete with the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News. To apply for the position, you must create a blog about a current event that contains the facts about the event and your personal opinion about the event. When the blog is finished, you will present it to the people at CNN and they will decide if you get the job. Good luck!
What student products/performances will provide evidence of desired understandings?
Type II Product
Type of Presentation
•A blog containing the facts and the student's opinion
•An oral presentation
By what criteria will student products/performances be evaluated?
Product Criteria
Presentation Criteria
•Effectiveness of the blog
•Presents facts about the topic
•Presents his/her opinion about the topic
•Spelling, usage, and mechanics
•Proper documentation
•Use of at least five sources
•Content
•Preparedness
•Speaks Clearly
•Volume
•Engages the audience
•Listens to other presentations
Table of Contents
Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence.
Role:Students will take on the persona of a news commentator who is applying for a job as the host of a new talk show on CNN.
Audience:The audience will be the rest of the class, as well as anyone on the Internet who reads the student's blog.
Situation:CNN is looking for a talk show that can compete with the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News. You want to host the new talk show, so you create a blog about a current event, explaining both the facts, and your own opinion. You will present this blog in an interesting manner to prove that you would be a good host for the new show.
Product/Presentation:A blog containing information about the chosen topic as well as the student's opinion about the topic. A presentation of the blog.
Standards (criteria from both rubrics):Students will be graded on the effectiveness of the blog, whether or not the present the facts about their topic, whether or not they present their own opinion about their topic, their spelling, usage, and mechanics, whether or not they used proper documentation, whether or not they used five or more sources, the content of their presentation, how well prepared they were for their presentation, whether or not they speak clearly, how loudly they speak, how well they enguage the audience, and whether or not they listen to other students' presentations.
•Observations of students as they work
•Student reflections on the research process over the course of the unit
•Do you think your blog was convincing?
•What did you learn from this project?
Assessment Task Blue Print
What understandings/goals will be assessed through this task? (G)
Grade 9 - Diploma Current Events
Students develop research questions and modify them as necessary to elicit, present, and critique information from a vatiety of primary and secondary sources.
What criteria are implied in the standard(s) understanding(s) regardless of the task specifics? What qualities must student work demonstrate to signify that standards were met?
Through what authentic performance task will students demonstrate understandings?
CNN is looking for a new talk show host who can compete with the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News. To apply for the position, you must create a blog about a current event that contains the facts about the event and your personal opinion about the event. When the blog is finished, you will present it to the people at CNN and they will decide if you get the job. Good luck!
What student products/performances will provide evidence of desired understandings?
By what criteria will student products/performances be evaluated?
•Presents facts about the topic
•Presents his/her opinion about the topic
•Spelling, usage, and mechanics
•Proper documentation
•Use of at least five sources
•Preparedness
•Speaks Clearly
•Volume
•Engages the audience
•Listens to other presentations